SUPPORT THE COMO

Since its inception in 1945, the COMO has relied on the generosity of individuals, foundations and businesses to keep our programs accessible and affordable. Guided by our mission, we are committed to addressing the needs of the ever-changing and growing community which we serve. Your support makes a difference. It is because of the community's collective support that the COMO continues to build upon our 70 year legacy of building strong minds, hearts and bodies throughout the generations.

Matching Gifts: You may increase your contribution to the COMO if your workplace has a matching gifts program. Matching gifts include monetary donations corporate matches for cash donation and volunteer service. See your company’s Human Resources Office for information.

Special Events: The COMO hosts a number of special events during the year. One time-honored major fundraising event is the annual Village Fair. The fair has been held the first Saturday in August for over 60 years. Special events, such as the Village Fair, support our program scholarship fund, meet a critical need and maintain general operations. Recently funded projects include new energy efficient windows and a new van. Click here for more information on our special events.

Endowment Support

The COMO’s Endowment Fund provides perpetual support to the community center. The principal of a gift to the Endowment Fund is invested and managed by a professional financial planner with oversight by the COMO Finance Committee. The fund's interest and dividend income contributes to a capital budget designed to assist in the maintenance of the COMO's much loved, but aging, facilities. Building a significant Endowment Fund is essential to ensuring the COMO’s ability to sustain our infrastructure so as to preserve and build upon our legacy of service for present and future generations.

Memorial/Tribute Gifts

Memorial and Tribute Gifts are expressions of love and respect. A Tribute Gift shows a person that you care and wish to honor them. A Memorial Gift honors the memory of a friend or loved one. Each Tribute Gift honoree is notified that a gift has been made in his/her honor. Recent Tribute Gifts have included the planting of trees to beautify the campus and entrance into the borough and benches for the Bear's Field and the paddle facility. Please clickhere if you would like to make a memorial donation.

Leave a Legacy- Planned Giving

The decision to make a planned gift to the Stonington Community Center is a way to continue giving and supporting the COMO now and into the future. A planned gift is arranged by you legally during your lifetime. Planned gifts take many forms, providing additional income for you and/or your heirs, reducing income and estate taxes, relieving you and your heirs of complicated financial management responsibilities and helping to fulfill your personal and charitable objectives. Planned gifts can be made in cash, real estate, stocks, bonds, personal property or life insurance. Below are several ways to make this gift. Please contact your financial advisor regarding various gift types.

Gifts of CashThe simplicity and ease of giving are the reasons that cash is the most popular type of giving. A gift of cash is considered given on the date it is made to the fund.

Bequests by WillOne of the simplest planned gifts is a bequest through your will in which you designate either a specific dollar amount or a percentage of your estate after other disbursements. A bequest also can reduce the amount of your taxable estate, which may increase the actual amount available to loved ones

Gifts of SecurityA gift of long-term securities generally results in several federal tax benefits. You are entitled to an income tax deduction for the full market value of the securities as of the date of your gift. You are not liable for the capital gains tax you would incur if you sold the securities.

A Gift of PropertyReal property in any location may be given to the COMO, provided it meets certain criteria. If the property is owned one year or longer, the fair market value is deductible, no capital gains taxes are payable on appreciation and the property is removed from your taxable estate. Donations of a personal residence are welcome and you can retain use of them throughout your lifetime.

Life InsuranceContributions of life insurance can provide a substantial gift to the COMO. The value of an ordinary policy at the time of the gift is tax deductible. If you continue paying the premiums, they also are deductible as charitable contributions. If a paid-up policy is given, the cost of purchasing a new paid-up policy at your current age is the value of the charitable deduction.